A Miami native, Captain Scott's "largely segregated education provided little access to resources, but his own determination combined with the dedication of his teachers set him on an inspiring path of achievement" according to his bio.

Captain Scott entered Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School after graduating from Florida State University in 1972. After being designated a Naval Aviator in 1974, he served a 4-year tour of duty with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Thirty Three at the Naval Air Station in North Island, California, flying the SH-2F Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System helicopter.

After earning a graduate degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and jet training, Captain Scott served a tour of duty with Fighter Squadron Eighty Four in Oceana, Virginia, flying the F-14 Tomcat.

In 1986, Scott became an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer. In Jacksonville, he served as a production test pilot flying the F/A-18 Hornet and the A-7 Corsair aircraft. Next, he became the Deputy Director of the Tactical Aircraft Systems Department at the Naval Air Development Center at Warminster, Pennsylvania.

During his career, Captain Scott has collected more than 5,000 hours of flight time in 20 different military and civilian aircraft, and 200 more hours in shipboard landings

In 1992, Captain Scott began his NASA career, reporting to the Johnson Space Center in August. Serving as a mission specialist, he logged a total of 24 days, 14 hours and 34 minutes in space, including three spacewalks that amounted to 19 hours and 26 minutes.

Captain Scott retired from NASA and the Navy in 1999, and became the VP for Student Affairs at Florida State University. He also served as an associate dean in the FAMU/FSU College of Engineering, and is currently the Dean of the College of Aeronautics at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.

He has also served as a university vice president, engineering college dean and professor, engineering company vice president, and as the Executive Director of the Florida Space Authority where he was responsible for the statewide development of space-related business.

Captain Scott also authored the book "Reflections From Earth Orbit" in 2005, which is available online to purchase.